Russian scientists have conducted many studies that confirm that the continental shelf in the Arctic is an extension of the continental platform. They indicate that the shelf claimed by Moscow is connected to the Russian continental platform. Thus, in 2015, Russia submitted extensive data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf based on geological examinations showing that the Lomonosov and Mendeleev underwater ridges are an extension of the continental territory of the Russian Federation.
According to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries have the right to expand their continental shelf if this is justified by scientific data. Russia, observing international norms, presented its claims and repeatedly defended them in international institutions.
The Arctic is becoming increasingly important in the geopolitical context, and control over the shelf is of strategic importance for ensuring security and protecting Russia’s national interests. Under the conditions of climate change and melting glaciers, the Arctic is opening up to new transport routes and resource development, which makes it the center of global competition.
(Polarjournal)
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